Colin Smart


Colin Edward Smart is a former international rugby union player, who played as a prop, from Highbury, London, England.

Personal life

Smart was educated at The Skinners' School in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. From there he attended Cardiff College of Education and became a teacher at Hartridge High School in Newport. He is married.

Career

Smart started his career playing rugby for Tunbridge Wells RFC. He then moved to Newport RFC in 1973. In 1977 he captained Newport to victory in the Welsh Cup.

International career

Smart was initially offered a chance to play for Wales against New Zealand in 1974 as he had previously played for Wales Students, however he rejected the invitation. He also played for England's Under-23 side. In 1979, Smart was called up to the full England team, making his debut at Twickenham Stadium against France. He then went on to appear 17 times for England, making his last appearance for England at Lansdowne Road against Ireland in 1983.

"The Aftershave Incident"

Smart is remembered for the infamous "Aftershave Incident" in 1982. While in Paris, after beating France in the Five Nations, England teammate Maurice Colclough emptied a bottle of free aftershave from the after-match meal, filled it with wine, and drank from it. Thinking that Colclough had drunk the aftershave and not wanting to appear upstaged by his teammate, Smart drank his bottle of aftershave. This made him very ill. After England medical officer Leo Walkden failed to get a response from Smart, he was required to go to hospital to have his stomach pumped. The incident was alluded to a month later, after England had beaten Wales, by Steve Smith who quipped: "The aftershave will sure taste good tonight!"
In 2006 when Walkden died, Smart returned from his holiday early in order to attend Walkden's funeral. He said about the incident: "Leo probably saved my life that night."